Why what's in your makeup is an environmental justice issue

Chemical soup: The quest to create a toxic-free marketplace

Boma Brown-West is leading the charge to eliminate toxic chemicals from our food and consumer products. As the Director of Consumer Health at Environmental Defense Fund, her vision is to create a “new normal” where every aisle of every store is safe for every person. 

Why should you care? Because Boma says that there are over 40,000 chemicals used in the food we eat and the products we purchase–the soaps, cosmetics, tech, toys, clothing, furniture, etc. Collectively, we’re bring at least. 200 million pounds of toxic chemicals home from the store each year. And when we consider just hair and skincare, a disproportionate number of those chemicals are found in products created for and marketed to women of color.

The good news: Boma and her team are having success in transforming what goes into products and ends up on store shelves. Find out how a degree in mechanical engineering led to a crusade to help keep us all safer, healthier and free from exposure to toxic chemicals.